New England Entertainment Digest - Online
Brought to you by JAC Publishing & Promotions - Serving New England Since 1979!

New Works by Kate Weare, Battleworks, Tania Isaac, Bebe Miller to Address Themes of Beauty, Work, Family in the 21st Century

LEWISTON, ME: The Bates Dance Festival announces its 27th season of public events, July 11 through Aug. 8, 2009, on the campus of Bates College. The five-week festival will feature performances, panel discussions, films and lectures by more than 30 internationally recognized dance artists from throughout the United States and abroad. The season showcases compelling and visually arresting performances by Kate Weare Company, Battleworks Dance Company, Tania Isaac Dance and Bebe Miller Company that blend dance, video, text and original music to address themes of beauty, work and family and human relationships in the 21st Century.

Opening the 2009 season is the nuanced and sensual Kate Weare Company, one of the most important choreographers to emerge in recent years. Kate Weare creates fierce and imaginative dances that explore contemporary perceptions of identity, intimacy and the basic human urge to move. Recently nominated for the Alpert Award, Weare has been presented at Jacob’ Pillow, City Center’s Fall for Dance, Joyce Soho and in San Francisco, Belgrade, Vienna and London. Fresh from its New York season, Kate Weare Company presents the Maine premieres of "Bridge of Signs," a quartet that looks at the reckless and wise instinct that drive us upstream towards love. Also premiering is "Lean-to," collaboration with composer Michael Gallante, scenic designer Kurt Perschke and lighting designer Brian Jones that features a trio of exceptional dancers. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 11, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

Next up, Battleworks Dance Company has established itself as one of America’s most promising and aesthetically daring ensembles. Under the direction of founder Robert Battle, the company made its debut in 2002 at the World Dance Alliance’s Global Assembly in Düsseldorf, Germany. Boldly pushing the boundaries that have traditionally defined modern dance, Battle takes his troupe of dancers to previously uncharted limits. His works, in high demand, have been commissioned by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Repertory Ensemble, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Koresh Dance Company and PARADIGM. The New York Sun says, "Mr. Battle makes an audience sit up and take notice, marvel, even laugh. His work reaches over the edge of the stage and communicates with people."

Battleworks makes its Maine debut with the world premiere of a brand new collaboration with composer, Carl Landa. Performed to a percussion score, this new work explores the dialogue between the drumbeat and dance. Also on the program are timeless and edgy dances from the Battlework’s repertory. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, July 16 and 18, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

One of Philadelphia’s rising stars, Tania Isaac Dance is a physically explosive, sensual marriage of modern and Caribbean aesthetic -- part personal documentary and part social commentary. St. Lucian-born Isaac, honored as one of Dance Magazine’s "25 to watch” in 2006, creates poetic, multi-disciplinary narratives rich in physicality and content.

Her work has been presented across the U.S, Japan and in the Caribbean. Isaac presents her newest evening-length work, "stuporwoman," reflecting the utter confusion and chaos of keeping pace in today’s frantic world. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

A longtime festival favorite, BESSIE New York Dance and Performance Award winner, Bebe Miller Company returns with its latest, multi-disciplinary work, "Necessary Beauty." One of the foremost creative forces in contemporary dance, Miller's vision of dance resides in her faith in the moving body as a record of thought, experience and sheer beauty. Bebe Miller Company has toured extensively throughout the United States and in eight countries. The Company has been commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music NEXT WAVE Festival, City Center Theater, The Joyce Theater, Wexner Center for the Arts, Walker Art Center, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Dance Place and Dance Theater Workshop.

"Necessary Beauty" composed of intimate, multimedia segments for five dancers, investigates the convergence of dance, theater, music and digital technology through the rhythm of action and memory. Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 31 and Aug. 1, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

Showcasing diverse styles and perspectives, "Different Voices" features new works by Kenyan choreographer Opiyo Okach, known for his subtle improvisational style and contemporary reinterpretations of East African traditions; Nigerian dancer, acrobat, writer and filmmaker Qudus Onikeku, who currently performs with the acclaimed company of Heddy Maalem; New York choreographer /performer Jennifer Archibald, whose work incorporate hip hop, modern, jazz and Latin styles; and emerging choreographers Kyle Abraham, named as one of "25 to watch" by Dance Magazine in 2008; and former Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company member Shanneka Harrell. "Different Voices" takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 6 and 7, in Schaeffer Theatre, 305 College St., Bates College.

The festival presents its annual "Musician's Concert," featuring a global mix of music by 10 remarkable composers/musicians at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St., Bates College. "Moving in the Moment," a spirited evening of improvisational dance by Nancy Stark Smith and festival faculty takes place at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, in Alumni Gym, 130 Central Ave. Rounding out the festival's five-week season is the "Festival Finale," featuring dancers of all ages and abilities performing hip hop, modern and contemporary Caribbean dance works by Jennifer Archibald, Robert Battle, Bebe Miller, Tania Isaac and the festival’s Youth Arts Program, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, in Alumni Gymnasium, 130 Central Ave.

In addition to main stage performances, the festival offers a selection of free and low-cost events. "Global Exchange: Sharing Across Cultures," a panel discussion with international visiting artists, takes place at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 21 in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St., Bates College.

In conjunction with its performances, the festival presents "Inside Dance: Understanding Contemporary Dance," a series of lectures and post-performance talks led by Boston dance writer Debra Cash. Offering insight into the artists and their work, a lecture will accompany "Tania Isaac Dance" at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, July 25, and Bebe Miller at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1. Both lectures take place in Schaeffer Theater, 305 College St. Post-performance talks take place following most Friday evening performances.

Information on tickets, event locations and further details will be available on the festival website at: http://www.batesdancefestival.org